The forgery of identity documents in the legal systems of Afghanistan and Iran is among the crimes that occur against social order and public security. This act is a specific type of forgery that is carried out materially and substantively on official documents. Material forgery refers to the physical alteration of official documents, while substantive forgery involves changing the content of documents without altering their outward appearance. This study has been conducted in a descriptive-analytical and comparative manner, aiming to examine the falsification of identity documents and its various forms in the laws of Afghanistan and Iran. It also seeks to explain and compare the reactions of the legislators of both legal systems, while outlining their differences and similarities. The findings of the research indicate that both Afghanistan and Iran have a century-long history of criminalizing the falsification of identity documents. Material forgery of such documents has been explicitly recognized in the laws of both countries, whereas substantive forgery is reflected more clearly in Afghan law, and appears only implicitly in Iranian law. In terms of punishment, the penalties imposed on those who forge these documents are generally harsher in Afghanistan than in Iran.

These matters have been examined in detail in this article with reference to the applicable laws of Afghanistan and Iran.